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Exercise 770Calculus › Multivariable calculus › Multiple integralsL2Added 2 Nov 2026

Triple integral over a simplex

#triple integral#iterated integration#simplex

Statement

Compute
I=∭Dx dx dy dzI = \iiint_D x \, dx \, dy \, dz
where D={(x,y,z):x>0,y>0,z>0,x+y+z<1}D = \{(x,y,z) : x>0, y>0, z>0, x+y+z<1\}.

Hint

Integrate first in zz for fixed (x,y)(x,y), with 0<z<1−x−y0 < z < 1-x-y, then in yy and xx.

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Solution

Setup.
I=∫01∫01−x∫01−x−yx dz dy dx.I = \int_0^1 \int_0^{1-x} \int_0^{1-x-y} x \, dz \, dy \, dx.

Integration in zz.
∫01−x−yx dz=x(1−x−y).\int_0^{1-x-y} x \, dz = x(1-x-y).

Integration in yy.
∫01−xx(1−x−y) dy=x[(1−x)y−y22]01−x=x⋅(1−x)22.\int_0^{1-x} x(1-x-y) \, dy = x\left[ (1-x)y - \frac{y^2}{2} \right]_0^{1-x} = x \cdot \frac{(1-x)^2}{2}.

Integration in xx.
I=12∫01x(1−x)2 dx=12∫01(x−2x2+x3) dx=12(12−23+14)=12⋅112=124.I = \frac12 \int_0^1 x(1-x)^2 \, dx = \frac12 \int_0^1 (x - 2x^2 + x^3) \, dx = \frac12 \left( \frac12 - \frac23 + \frac14 \right) = \frac12 \cdot \frac{1}{12} = \frac{1}{24}.

Remark. The volume of the simplex is 1/61/6, and the mean xx-coordinate is 1/41/4, consistent by symmetry.